Red Mud as an Additional Source of Titanium Raw Materials

Abstract

In this study the extraction of titanium from bauxite residue (red mud) with 2 step acid leaching was proposed. In the first step red mud was leached with diluted hydrochloric acid under stirring to remove the soluble Ca, Na, Al, Si and K at 25∘C and pH=3 for 1 hour. The content of iron and titanium in the solid residue increased to 57.7% and 6.4%, respectively. The factors influencing sulfuric acid leaching of the solid residue in the second stage were examined by factorial design. The optimal iron and titanium extraction efficiency was obtained after leaching at 50∘C and L:S ration 20:1 for 90 min when 80 g/L sulfuric acid was used. The titanium oxide content in the concentrate obtained under the optimum conditions amounted to 46.7%. The maximum recovery of titanium in the sulfuric acid solution has not exceeded 6%.